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Published : 09 Oct 2025, 10:29 PM
Leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP) are refusing to budge from their demand for allocation of the “Shapla” or water lily as electoral symbol during a meeting with the Election Commission.
At the Thursday meeting, the party also sought an explanation from the commission as to why the symbol could not be granted.
The meeting began at 4pm at the Nirbachan Bhaban and lasted for two and a half hours, attended by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin and EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed.
After the discussion, the party’s Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary said the NCP would not accept any symbol other than Shapla.
He added that the EC “could not provide any explanation” for denying the symbol.
“For two hours, we asked them [CEC and secretary] why they would not provide the symbol. They remained silent. They could not explain. We appreciate their patience,” the NCP leader said.
“We finally told them that if Shapla is not given, you will have to explain, since you hold a constitutional position.”
He also argued that if Shapla is to be reserved as a national emblem, then symbols such as paddy sheaf, star, jackfruit, and golden fibre should also be protected.
Commenting on the EC, Nasiruddin said: “There are two paths before the commission -- one is to cancel paddy sheaf, star, and golden fibre; the other is to allow Shapla.
“We hope that fellow political organisations share our view that none of these symbols should be cancelled. Therefore, we see no legal or political barrier to granting Shapla. We informed them of this and they remained silent.”
He added, “Since they gave no answer, we interpret it as a form of agreement, similar to consent expressed in a marriage. So it’s not a joke; I am talking about a serious matter.”
Ahead of the parliamentary election, the EC has decided to register two new political parties, one of which is the NCP.
Although the party has repeatedly demanded Shapla as its electoral symbol, the EC has not approved it, citing that Shapla is not included in the commission’s election conduct rules.
The party, however, has remained firm on its demand.
On Sept 30, the EC sent a letter to the NCP asking it to choose a symbol and inform the commission by Oct 7.
Rejecting the EC’s request, the party urged the commission to amend the rules to include Shapla in the list of electoral symbols.
In the letter, Convenor Nahid Islam expressed hope that one of three versions -- Shapla, White Shapla, or Red Shapla -- would be allocated to the party.
Amid this ongoing dispute, the NCP delegation held another round of discussions with the CEC.
